Resident Survey Finds More Praise Than Use for MCC

A majority of  a small sample of McLean residents like the McLean Community Center, but a much lower percentage of residents actually use it, according to the results of a telephone and internet survey of residents.

The survey results were based on  responses  from 22 percent of those called.  Less than 800 people were called but Dr. Jim Witte, professor of sociology and director Center for Social Science Research at George Mason University, who conducted the survey, said the results were statistically valid.

A large majority of the small sample said the McLean Community Center was “meeting the needs” of their household. But when residents were asked if they used the center, the percentages ranged  from single digits to up to 50 percent with a large number in the 20 percent range.

For example:

• A little more than 10 percent had taken any adult class at the MCC in the past year.

• Less than 10 percent had taken a computer class in the past year.

• Barely  more than 20 percent of households had a child who had taken any class in the past year.

These are the results contained in the complete $30,000 taxpayer-funded   random telephone survey paid for by the McLean Community Center board. The survey is based on interviews with 787 residents who live in the McLean tax district and who therefore pay property taxes to finance the community center. Another 52 took the survey online. The U.S. Census shows about 40,000 people living in McLean and most have no children younger than 18.

Dr. Witte  said the calls were made from late October to early December.  The survey asked about: child and adult classes, community programs, attendance of performances at the Alden Theater, reasons for not using the community center and future programming.

Witte presented selected results of the survey to the Communications Committee headed by board member Risa Sanders April 11. Sanders refused to release the entire report containing the data from the survey. McLean Patch filed a Freedom of Information request to make the complete data available to the neighbors. That request was granted the following week.*

Other results from the survey:

• The most popular MCC events: McLean day attended by four out of 10 respondents and art classes for kids.

• The least popular: dances, Jammin'Juniors (for kids), the jewelry show,  the health fair, the Martin Luther King program and the 5K race.

• About a third said they had attended a performance at the Alden and an art show.

• Major reason for not visiting MCC: Too busy.

What residents said they wanted:

• More classes and workshops for adults, more lectures and seminars, more performing arts and art exhibits.

• More programs specifically for senior citizens.

MCC also asked should it use its "accumulated capital reserves" to build a new MCC downtown facility. The survey did not say that MCC board has accumulated a $12 million surplus over the years by collecting more in tax dollars than they needed to actually operate the center.

Of the people who responded, six out of 10 said they strongly agreed or agreed. The rest strongly disagreed or disagreed. The numbers broke about the same when asked if MCC should build a full-sized gym downtown.

The MCC Board has long wanted to build something on the site of the  Old Firehouse Teen House, which its operates. The board has hired  consultant for up to $100,000 to tell them what they  might build on that land they don't own and which has no space for parking. The county owns the land.

_____________________________________________________________________________

*Neighbors can request their own copy of the data. You can e-mail Sanders, who is running for reelection, at risasanders@mcleancenter.org. Or Sabrina Anwah <Sabrina.Anwah@fairfaxcounty.gov>, who is the Freedom of Information Officer for the Community Center.

Original Story on Survey Results: April 15. McLean Committee Hears Selective Results of Taxpayer Survey

McLean Committee Hears Selective Results of Taxpayer Survey

McLean families with children are apparently the most satisfied with the offerings of the McLean Community Center according to selective results of a survey of taxpayers made public this week.

 Risa Sanders, chair of the committee that commissioned the $26,949 telephone survey, refused to make the complete taxpayer-financed report publicly available. * She called it a "working" document.

Dr. Jim Witte professor of sociology and director Center for Social Science Research, at George Mason University, who conducted the survey, shared some results in a Powerpoint presentation at the committee's meeting this week.

Sanders, who is running for reelection to the board,  also refused to make the Powerpoint available.

 The results were based on a random telephone survey of 787 residents who live in the McLean tax district and who therefore pay property taxes to finance the community center. Another 52 took the survey online, Witte explained. The survey was conducted from late October to early December.

 The shows about 40,000 people living in McLean.

 The survey asked about: child and adult classes, community programs, attendance of performances at the Alden Theater, reasons for not using the community center and future programming.

 Up to 20 percent of respondents answered, “don’t know” to some questions.

 Classes.12.8 percent of all adults had taken a class offered at MCC in the past 12 months. But 22 percent of those with children had taken a class.

 “MCC has a strong orientation toward children,” Witte said.

Community programs. The most popular MCC program: McLean Day. 41 percent said they attended.

No numbers were given for other community programs like the July 4 fireworks.

Productions at the Alden Theater, housed at the Community Center. 33 percent said they had attended in the past 12 months. More than 60 percent said they did not attend because:  they were not interested in the theater (18 percent); types of performances (17 percent); show times (13.4 percent); ticket prices 5 percent.

Major reason for not using the center at all: 74 percent said too busy.

How to spend the center’s surplus. Taxpayers were asked if the MCC’s surplus should be used to pay for new facilities. It appeared that taxpayers were not told that the amount of the surplus: $12 million.

47.8 percent agreed to some degree. 31.5 percent disagreed to some degree. 20 percent said they didn’t know.

Is the Community Center meeting the needs of your household? 66 percent said yes.

“It’s the households with children that are the most satisfied,” Witte said.

McLean has an estimated  14,600 households. A third have children 18 and under.

 Sanders said the survey tells us “the community is very pleased overall with the services . . . but we are committed to do better.”

__________________________________________

*McLean Patch filed a formal Freedom of Information request with Sanders and the community center Thursday for a copy of the complete survey results so we can share it with the neighbors. They have five days to act on the request.